The Pinhoti Trail is 335 miles of Southern Appalachian redemption, a path less traveled that winds through the forgotten forests of Alabama and Georgia. It begins (or ends, depending on your direction) at the base of Flagg Mountain near Weogufka, Alabama, a humble mountain that stands as the southernmost peak over 1,000 feet in the Appalachian chain.

Unlike its more famous cousin to the north, the Pinhoti offers solitude in abundance. Miles can pass without seeing another soul, with only the occasional Joro spider’s web stretched across the trail to remind you that you’re not alone in these woods. The shelters, more numerous than I expected, create a game of strategy, their spacing dictating your days as you push your trail legs to their limit.

This is a trail of contradictions, where you might spend the morning traversing a pristine ridgeline, only to descend into a road walk past neglected dogs that break your heart. At the end of the day, this trail isn’t just a connector or a warm-up for bigger journeys, it’s a teacher in its own right, asking the same question I found myself pondering on its dusty paths: Why are you out here?